Letters to the editor

Posted: Monday, May 21, 2001

Letters to the editor can be sent by e-mail. They must include the writer's name (no initials) along with a mailing address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. All letters are subject to editing for brevity and clarity. Preference will be given to letters less than 200 words.

Critics oppose process of picking school head, not necessarily person

In response to Craig Hughes' comments ("Nay-sayers once again are part of the problem," April 21), I wish to secure the support of law-abiding citizens of our community.

Mr. Hughes used the term "educators" in quotation marks as a direct slap at the four Savannah-Chatham County school board members who voted against John F. O'Sullivan as superintendent of the Savannah-Chatham County school system.

First, all four members who voted not to hire Mr. O'Sullivan have not been on the school board since the 1960s. And second, unless Mr. Hughes was on the advisory board or the school board, how does he know if Mr. O'Sullivan was "the only qualified candidate left for the job?"

The four members Mr. Hughes alluded to are not part of the problem with education in Savannah-Chatham County; the problem is race relations. Mr. Hughes injected race into his letter when race had nothing to do with the issue.

The description of the community leaders who stood civilly with me as "cronies" is insulting to good, kind people of our community. Pastors and leaders in this community should question illegal appointments to any position of trust.

Mr. Hughes' statement that the group in question supported a black person for the superintendent's position is unmitigated and shows racism on his part. We didn't endorse anyone, we only questioned the process. The assumption that, being black, we could only support a black was prejudiced itself.

We took it as a personal insult that anyone would think that we should not question back-room votes in violation of state laws.

We hoped to get the best person through a fair and open process.

By the time the public vote was taken, any discussion of the matter was moot. We simply asked that the process be reopened.

The fact that retiring Superintendent Virginia Edwards said she was detached from the process is also cause for concern.

Ms. Edwards, as a veteran in education and a product of this community, was best suited to be consulted in this matter.

The school board taught our children a lesson that we in the community don't want them to learn: You can do whatever you can get away with.

CHESTER A. DUNHAM

Schools turning students into cultural eunuchs

A recent Morning News article on the American Civil Liberties Union's challenge of censorship over Confederate T-shirts was another pinnacle of Orwellian doublethink that has become so common in the world of political correctness, government schools and South-bashing.

When Seminole County (Donalsonville) Schools Superintendent Larry Bryant said ". . . it is important that students be taught respect and civility for each other," that was his justification for threatening students who wear T-shirts with Confederate emblems.

Students are asked to either cover up the emblems or turn their shirts inside out. Refusal to comply can result in suspension or expulsion.

The Supreme Court has held in numerous cases that such symbolic and peaceful speech is constitutional and protected.

This situation should be a clear sign to parents that government schools are now chiefly social engineering camps, not places of learning. The schools wish to turn children like these T-shirt wearers into cultural eunuchs. Parents who value education should endeavor to keep their children out of government schools at all costs.

I have taught at a public school in Georgia for 14 years. My stepfather was a school superintendent, and several of my aunts and uncles were public school teachers. We have all concluded that today's schools are irreparable and most likely damaging to a child under the current paradigm.

The Founding Fathers were wise to leave the responsibility of education to each of the sovereign states.

Federal nullification of the 10th Amendment and state sovereignty appears to have been most unwise.

Today we reap the sad rewards of such unconstitutional moves. I'm afraid your Vision 2010 plan will not help.

TONY THOMPSON

Metter

Dedicated teachers, staff help students to succeed

As a parent of a middle-schooler at Coastal Middle School for the last two years, I have been satisfied with my daughter's education.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to substitute teach at Coastal. I have substituted on all the grade levels and several different teams.

As a whole, the teachers are exceptional, the environment is well-supervised and structured, and there is a team atmosphere among the teachers about their students that gives me a sense of security in light of recent events in the media.

Coastal Principal Alfred Howard and Vice Principal Kerry Coursey are without question doing an outstanding job as administrators at the school.

Walk down the hall and there are signs of their positive leadership all over the place. They are quick to handle disciple problems with diplomacy and concern, but they are equally quick to praise both students and teachers for their achievements.

Middle school is not an easy place to teach. So much must be dealt with on a daily basis that has absolutely nothing to do with teaching. I applaud the dedication of those who continue to expect excellence from their students.

I would like to express publicly my appreciation for the level of professionalism that I have experienced firsthand at Coastal Middle School, from the secretaries to the teachers to the administrators.

I am extremely thankful that my child attends such an exemplary public school.

KELLI MAHANY

Blame Nader's voters for current gasoline prices

Bill Ferguson's May 8 commentary, "Fuel for thought: The truth about high gasoline prices," was right on the money. Indeed, we have a Texas oilman at the helm of our nation who has created a very firm energy non-conservation policy.

What's the oil industry to do under these market conditions? Lower prices when oil demand is rising amid the present lax regulatory environment of an oil-friendly administration?

However, Mr. Ferguson's last assertion was terribly flawed. He stated that no one had the right to complain about gas prices unless they rode around town in a little Toyota hatchback with a "Don't blame me, I voted for Nader" bumper sticker. Those are the very people who should be blamed.

Had they voted for Al Gore instead of Ralph Nader, they might not find their fuel price woes being disregarded by their government while being overrun by SUVs, especially the ones in Florida.

ROBERT AGRESS

Swainsboro

Make people responsible for their choices, actions

When Sheila Conley gets out of jail, and she will, where will the children whose lives she irreparably altered be?

At what point will they be in learning to deal with the enormous loss she dealt them?

How many internal demons will they have to face throughout their lives?

A person ought to be able to drink herself to a blubbering stupor if she wishes, even get behind the wheel afterward, but the responsibility for the consequences of her actions in that regard ought not to be open to debate, plea bargain, mitigation, or side stepped in any way. We are responsible for our actions. We cannot legislate morality and good character into people, we can only place responsibility for the consequences of making choices squarely on the individual's shoulders.

Ms. Conley killed Danny and Paulette Strickland as surely as if she put a gun to their heads.

Why should the penalty for such be any different? The legal system cheapens the very core values of family and respect for life itself with judgments such as this one. I wonder how the verdict would have differed if the defendant had been male, black, a diplomat or a minor?